Closure lock



y 1950 R. c. STALEY 2,507,941

CLOSURE LOCK Filed Nov. 27, 1945 28 3, 23 25 37 /az 11 mum/ w v-1 ll/ 25 /r /'36 26 l' 1 I I I III 1 29 Li 5 8 :6 14 34 4o 38 4-3 0 3 I l INVENTOR.

"RALPH C. jTALEY Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to closure locks and more particularly to closure locks adapted to be used in connection with gas caps.

The object of my invention is to provide a closure lock for gas caps which will normally hold the cap in locked position to prevent accidental or unauthorized removal of the cap.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure lock the locking means of which are normally arranged in locking position and will be put into inactive or open position by closing an electric circuit, which is normally open.

Other objects of my invention may appear in the following specification describing my invention and the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof. It is however to be understood, that my invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact construction and combination of parts described in the specification and shown in the drawing, but that such changes and modifications can be made, which fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of my invention, some parts being shown in plan view, and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, some parts being shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawing Ill represents the neck of a container (not shown) for gas or the like. Adjacent its upper end this neck has two laterally extending bulbs I I from each of which a wall I2 projects forwardly, where they meet to form a forwardly extending half boss I3. The top surface of this half boss is level and has formed therein adjacent its forward end a semicylindrical hollow I4. In the rear portion of the top surface of the half boss I3 a semi-cylindrical depression I5 is formed extending coaxially with the hollow I4, and of the same diameter therewith. A stop I6 is arranged between the hollow I4 and the depression l5 forming a narrow communication I'I between them.

The bottom surface I8 of the half boss I3 extends rearwardly to the container neck III. From the inner wall of said neck a bottom wall l9 extends forwardly the lower surface whereof may be looked upon as a continuation of bottom surface I8 of the half boss I3. The top surface of said bottom wall I9 is even and located at a somewhat lower level than the lowest part of the semi-circular depression l5. In the bottom wall of the half boss I3 a circular hole 20 extends from the semi-circular depression I5 downwardly and is located approximately at the transverse center thereof.

A second half boss 2| is formed exactly like the above described half-boss I3. It has a semicylindrical hollow 22 corresponding with the hollow I a semi-cylindrical depression 23 corresponding with the depression I5 and a narrow communication 24 corresponding with communication II. Walls of the same thickness and shape as the walls I2 extend rearwardly from the second half boss 2|, which forms the top half of a boss formed by the two half bosses.

The rear parts of the top walls end in bulbs similar to the bulbs II and these bulbs are connected with each other by means of a rear wall 25. This rear wall 25, the top bulbs, the top half boss and the walls betweensaid half boss and said top bulbs are adapted to fit on top of the corresponding lower parts. The top parts, forming one unit, are removably attached to said lower parts by fiat head countersunk screws 26.

Into the top of the container neck It, formed as described above, a stopper or cap 2'I fits closely. This stopper has a top part 28 of a somewhat bigger diameter than the inside diameter of the container neck II]. The stopper is provided with a circumferential groove 29. Two resilient arms 30 are embedded in the bulbs II, one at each side of the neck Ill, and extend forwardly. Their forward ends are curved inwardly toward each other as shown at 3|. These ends reach into the rear portion of the circular passage formed by the corresponding semi-circular depressions I5 and 23 through slots 32 provided in the wall of said passage.

A plunger head 33 is slidably arranged in the circular passage. It has a stem 34 extending forwardly thereof and passing through the narrow communications I! and 24 into the cylindrical hollow I4. On the front end of the stem 34 a circular disc 35 is rigidly mounted and a spiral spring 36 is arranged between the stop It and said disc, and surrounds the stem 34. The spring urges the disc 35 forwardly so that the forward surface of the plunger head 33 abuts the stop It. The rearward end of the plunger head 33 is frustoconically shaped and its rearmost part is located between the ends 3| of the resilient arms 30. The arms and the groove 29 are arranged at the same level so that said arms will normally en gage said groove, thus preventing the removal of the stopper 2?.

On the bottom wall I9 rearwardly of the circular passage an electro-magnet 31 is arranged coaxially with the plunger head 33. The magnet rn'ent'with the arm ends 3l.

is connected to a source of electricity 38 by means of wires 39 and 39' and in one of these wires a switch 40 is inserted.

The plunger head 33 has a slot 4! formed therein which extends diametrically therethrough. A pin 42 extends through said slot and is fastened in the hole 20 in the lower half boss 13 and a corresponding hole in the upper half boss 2 I.v

When it.is desi'redito remove. the stopper 2! the switch 40 is closed energizing the magnet 31, which attracts the plunger head 33 moving it rearwardly against the pressure of spring 36. The frusto-conical portion of the plunger head will then engage the arm ends 3| and force said.

arms apart disengaging them from the groove 29, thereby permitting the-removalfof thestopper 21. The switch can then be opened again. deenergizing the magneti3'l and allowing spring 36' to move the plunger, forwardly nd out of engage- Fhearms will then return into their original position onaccount of their inherent resiliencyand-gwill be ready to engage thegroove 29 again; when thestopper 2! is inserted again in'the container neck. To make this possible without closing the switch 40 the lower circumferential corner' of the stopper is beveled as shown: at 43 in- Figure 2.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure-by Letters Patent is:

1. In a closure lock for containers having a neck, a closure, including a portion insertible in said neck and formed with an annular groove, arms'straddl'ing' said closure; said arms registering with and extending into said annular groove preventing removal of said closure from the neck, a spreader element associated with said arms, an electro-magnet positioned to influence said spreader element, and means energizing said electro-magnet from a remote point for actuation of said spreader element to release the closure.

2. In a closure lock for containers having a hollow neck,.a closure including a portion insertable in said neck to close the same, said closure portion being formed with an annular groove, a pair of diametrically-disposed arms carried by said neck inwardly thereof, said arms including portions seatable in said groove to lock said closure.- in. said neck, means loading said arms toward said groove, said arms including juxtaposed portions lonatedl laterally of said closure, a movable spreader element carried by said neck adjacent said juxtaposed portions, and means for moving said spreader element between said juxtaposed portions, wherebyto spread the same and simultaneously disengage both of said arms-from saidannular grooveof said closure.

RALPH C. STALEY,

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are. of record. in. the file. of' this. patent:

UNI-TED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 149,904 Weston- Apr. 21, 1874 1,037,072 Snyder Aug. 27, 1912 2,081,055 Kiracofe May 18-, 1937 

